Former Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has rated the side’s chances at the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, saying the South African champions can hold their own.
Sundowns open their account in Group F against Ulsan on Wednesday, 18 June, morning (00:00) then face German side Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, 21 June, (18:00) and close the group stage against Fluminense of Brazil on Wednesday 25 June (21:00).
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Mokwena says though Dortmund are favourites to get out of the group, Sundowns’ European pre-season last term and the players’ international experience with the national team bodes well for the team against tough opponents.
Mokwena told iDiski Times Digital Editor David Kappel in edition 208 of the newspaper that Sundowns is not out of their depth in the pool and should aim to replicate their domestic league possession but also burry their chances.
“Having coached Mamelodi Sundowns, I know this squad intimately,” Mokwena told iDiski Times.
“Group F is daunting, but they’re not out of their depth. Their European pre-season last year in the Netherlands – winning three matches and drawing one against sides like Go-Ahead Eagles, NEC Breda, Sparta Rotterdam, and KAA Gent — proved they can handle top-tier opposition. That exposure, plus the fact that many have international experience with Bafana, means they have what it takes to surprise many.
“Dortmund are favourites, though of course, averaging 2.1 goals per game in the Bundesliga this season, driven by their dynamic 4-2-3-1. Fluminense’s flair can be dazzling but inconsistent, while Ulsan HD’s disciplined 3-4-3 offers a different test. Sundowns’ strengths – midfield control and wing speed – could exploit Fluminense’s defensive lapses and Ulsan’s narrower shape.
“If they replicate their 62% possession average from the PSL and convert chances, four to six points are achievable, giving them a 50-55% chance of advancing.”
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